Kris Bryant and Kyle Hendricks are finding their grooves for the Cubs

The Cubs’ offense gained attention Monday night for their breakout that included the first home run by Kris Bryant since July 21, three days before he went on the 10-day disabled list with a left shoulder injury that sidelined him until Sept. 1.

But Kyle Hendricks continues to provide the starting pitching stability that could help carry the Cubs to the National League Central title and give them more momentum heading into the playoffs.

“That was classic Kyle,” manager Joe Maddon said after watching Hendricks pitch eight innings of one-hit ball before settling for a 5-1 win over the Diamondbacks that cut the Cubs’ magic number for winning the National League Central Division to 10.

Maddon pulled Hendricks with two out in the ninth inning after he surrendered a home run to A.J. Pollock that spoiled his shutout bid.

Maddon was booed heavily by the Cubs fans in Arizona, but Maddon didn’t want Hendricks to labor more after throwing 109 pitches.

There could be more at stake in not allowing Hendricks to throw his first complete game since Aug. 1, 2016 against the Marlins.

With Thursday serving as a day off, the Cubs have the option of juggling their rotation for the White Sox series this weekend, which could affect Jose Quintana, Mike Montgomery or Hendricks.

But for now, the Cubs are delighted with the results they’re receiving from Hendricks, who has allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of his last six starts.

Maddon compared Hendricks’ gem to his no-hit bid against the Cardinals in September 2016, when Jeremy Hazelbaker led off the ninth with a home run. Maddon eventually was ejected by umpire Joe West after trying to buy too much time for Aroldis Chapman to warm up and replace Hendricks.

“I think it cost me $2,000,” Maddon quipped.

The other masterpiece Maddon remembered was Hendricks’ 7 1/3 innings of two-hit ball against the Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw in Game 6 of the 2016 NL Championship Series.

As for Hendricks, who relied on his fastball command to set up his effective changeup, the Cubs’ stretch of 30 consecutive games with a scheduled game that ends after Wednesday night’s game hasn’t affected him.

“At this point it’s kind of normal,” Hendricks said. “We know we’re playing every day.”

And Hendricks took great pride in pitching as deeply as he did Monday to help preserve the bullpen.

“When you make good pitches, it gets easier in repeating your mechanics,” said Hendricks, who is 6 2/3 innings shy of equaling his season high of 190 innings in 2016. “Everything feels good.”

A pro-Cubs crowd of 27,662 gave Hendricks a standing ovation in the ninth for executing a sacrifice bunt.

“I never thought that would happen,” Hendricks smiled. “I’d rather get an ovation for something else. But you got to get your bunts down.”

Bryant’s homer, meanwhile, increased the faith that the Cubs’ offense eventually will provide a long-awaited spark that has been absent for most of September.

“We know what KB can do here,” said Javier Baez, aware that Bryant has made some subtle adjustments since returning from a left shoulder injury. “It’s not easy coming back from a shoulder injury.”

Bryant’s home run may give opponents more to consider with him batting ahead of Anthony Rizzo and Baez.

“If we play as a team, like I always say, no one is going to beat us,” Baez said. “We’re feeling good right now.”

Baez feels so good that he’s not dwelling on a long-awaited day off scheduled for Thursday.